Willpower runs out. We add three proven psychological forces on top of it — a financial stake, social accountability, and a locked deadline — so your goals actually happen.
2×
more effective than willpower alone
65%
of public commitments get completed
100%
of stakes go to charity on failure — we don't keep them
Each one is backed by research. Together they compound.
Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman proved it: the pain of losing $100 is roughly twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining the same amount. This isn't a weakness — it's neuroscience. We turn that asymmetry into your advantage: put money on the line and your brain switches into protection mode.
2× stronger than the anticipation of reward
"I'm going to start running" costs nothing. "I staked $150" costs something. That's exactly why Nassim Taleb calls skin in the game the ultimate filter between words and action. As long as the cost of failure is zero, the decision isn't real.
No stake — no commitment
When others know about your goal, it's no longer just between you and yourself. Research shows public commitments are completed 65% more often than private ones. Share your page with a friend or post it — now failure costs more than money. It costs your reputation.
65% higher completion rate
"Lose weight", "get fit", "learn a language" — those aren't goals, they're wishes. When you write "run 3 times a week until May 1" and attach money to it, your brain receives a concrete contract with yourself. SMART goals are achieved 3× more often than vague ones.
3× more often than vague intentions
Deadlines you can move always get moved. Here, the date is fixed at the moment you commit — it doesn't change. The timer runs. The money waits. That irreversibility is exactly what pushes you to act today, not "starting next week".
The date never moves. Ever.
Three steps. No tracking, no verification. Just you and your word.
Be specific: what, how often, by when. Vagueness is the enemy. The more precise, the better.
Pick an amount that stings if you lose it, but won't ruin you. $50–$200 works for most goals.
You live with the timer and money on the line. At the deadline, you honestly report the outcome. Succeed: full refund. Fail: the stake goes to charity.
And why external forces work better
Real goals. Real money on the line.
Real people. Real money on the line. Real results.
“I'd tried to quit smoking three times before. The difference this time was the $200 I put on the line. Turns out the fear of losing money is a better motivator than any app or nicotine patch. Six months smoke-free.”
Sarah M.
Austin, TX
“I'd been "working on my side project" for two years without shipping anything. Put $150 on the line with a hard deadline. Shipped in 6 weeks. The app has 300 users now.”
James K.
London, UK
“Lost the $75. Completely deserved it. But honestly — losing that money was the kick I needed. I'm on my second commitment now and I'm not losing again.”
Dan W.
Seattle, WA
“Lost 9kg in 3 months. I've tried every diet. What I hadn't tried was putting $100 at risk. My husband thought it was ridiculous. Now he's using Commited.me too.”
Priya S.
Toronto, CA